With an eye focused on the Wild West, American author William Brooks, going by his pen-name of Bill Brooks, is a highly adept writer of classic western novels. Bringing the Frontier to life, he writes historical titles filled with cowboys and outlaws, also bringing famous and iconic figures such as Bonnie and Clyde to life once again. Taking the reader on a journey, he paints a vivid portrait of the past, filled with excitement and adventure, whilst also keeping his stories grounded in reality at the same time.

Early and Personal Life

Born in 1943, the author to be Bill Brooks would grow up with a strong fascination with the Wild West and all its surrounding folklore. Immersing himself in this, he would also become a highly adept storyteller, nurturing a keen passion for both reading and writing as well. This would develop through the years, as he would continue to take inspiration from classic westerns, along with the world around him, infusing it all with his own distinctive personality.

Travelling extensively throughout his life, he has taken in a lot over the years, seeing places such as Sedona Arizona. All of this has given him the experience with which to write on his preferred subject matter with a high-degree of authenticity and realism. Currently living in North East Indiana, he still continues to write to this very day, with more books set to be released in the near future.

Writing Career

In the year of 1992 Bill Brooks would make his literary debut with the novel ‘The Badmen’, which was a stand-alone title. Working as a story of outlaws in a time of lawlessness, it tells the story of a bank heist in Deadwood, recounting it with a sense excitement and action. It would also pave the way for a lot of the novels to follow from Brooks, ultimately setting the tone for much of what was to come.

Producing a number of series too, Brooks has come to write five franchises over the entire course of his writing career. These would come to attract readers from far and wide, regardless of their background, with him writing more than fifty westerns, despite his career beginning at the age of fifty. With a lot more to come yet, he continues to write to this present day, with more novels and series due to be released in the near future.

Winter Kill: A John Henry Cole Story

Originally written in 2013, this first came out through the ‘Blackstone Western’ publishing imprint, arriving off the back of two previous titles. The third novel in the ‘John Henry Cole’ series of books, this would continue the story of the eponymous detective looking to get away from it all. Starting out 2012, the books themselves would be released in a relatively short amount of time, with the last book, ‘Go and Bury Your Dead’, being published in 2014, it being the fourth one.

As a character, John Henry Cole really comes to life over the course of the series, with Brooks drawing from his own previous novels, as well as real-life. Showing a clear sense of development from his previous books, he’s taken his ideas and developed them, ultimately taking them to a whole new level. The locations used are also extremely well realized, as he paints them with vivid and highly vibrant colors, really allowing the reader to feel as if they’re actually there. With the themes and ideas, he has also moved on, taking them even further than ever before, moving to a whole new level.

The winter in Cheyenne has been particularly brutal this time round, leaving John Henry Cole barely surviving, with his ranch in tatters. With everything dying before him, he quickly realizes that it’s time to move on, as he must leave for greener pastures, putting the past behind him. Things take a somewhat unexpected direction though, after the arrival of Teddy Green the Texas ranger, as he’s looking for Ella Mims. With her being a former lover of Cole, Green believes he can help locate her, with her being a suspect in a Denver City murder. Can they both learn the truth as to what really happened? Where will their journey take them? Who really committed the winter kill?

Leaving Cheyenne

First published on the 1st of December 1998, this would provide a stand-alone title in the back-catalog of Bill Brooks as an author. Using a similar template again in later books, the story itself would be developed over time, allowing it to evolve for Brooks as an author. Initially coming out through the Dell publishing imprint, it would manage to establish the style and tone of Brooks as an author of westerns.

Marking an early effort from Brooks as an author, this is an extremely interesting title in that it would foreshadow many ideas and themes that would reoccur throughout his writing career. Definitely a must for any fans of him as a writer, it really shows where he’s come from, as well as providing a quality western thriller. The characters would also really come to life once again too, showing a talented writer who would really be one to watch in the following years to come. With it being a stand-alone too, it would have a self-contained narrative, thus making it the ideal entry point for any newcomers to the work of Brooks.

Hoping to put the past behind him, Quint McCannon purchases a ranch with the intention of settling down, leaving the detective business behind him. With the murder of his former friend and partner Ben Beadle still fresh in his mind, he intends to overcome this traumatic memory and start again. The winter isn’t so kind to him though, and his plans are scuppered, leaving him to put his ranch back on the market and, not only that, Deputy Marshal Teddy Blue of the United States has arrived on the scene. Looking for a past lover of McCannon, Teddy hopes to learn the whereabouts of one Etta Landrow, as she’s been accused of murdering the son of a Denver judge. On top of that, the judge is apparently tired and cynical of the legal system, opting to hire several elite killers to hunt down Etta without trial. Can McCannon find her before they do and discover the truth? Will they get to her first? What will happen as McCannon finds himself leaving Cheyenne?

Thriller Master Harlan Coben is back! The man of a thousand twists is back with his latest edge of the seat thriller. A perfect family has lost their daughter to drugs and an abusive boyfriend. The parent sees her in Central Park one day and approaches her. However she runs, and she's clearly in trouble. Of course if you're a Coben fan you don't even need a description - you know this book is going to be good. More Details.

Recommendations

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MISSING A BOOK?

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Featured Author

It’s always exciting when an author starts a new series, and romantic suspense author of the Daniel Vartanian trilogy Karen Rose has started a new series recently. It’s called the Sacramento series and begins with Say You’re Sorry. Karen is our author of the month! Check out our Karen Rose page.

Did You Know…

In 1994, Brad Meltzer co-wrote the original swearing-in oath that is taken by AmeriCorps members, and has been delivered by Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.